Book support



Jan. 3, 1928. 1,654,868

F. J. EBEL BOOK SUPPORT Filed Feb. 20, 1924 attozncgs Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

f UNITED STATES FRANK J. EBEL, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

' BOOK SUPPORT.

Application filed February 20, 1924. Serial No. 694,698.

My invention relates 'to new and useful improvements in a book support and more particularlyto such a device which is adapted to be positioned in or on a bed or other similar article so that a person may read while in a recliningposition the principal object of-the invention residing in the provision of such a device which is simple and inexpensive in construction, light in weight, and which, when not in use, may. be folded to be'stored in a small-space. v

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a support of the character described which maybe adjusted to various angles, with respect to the person so that the book will beheld in such a position that it may beeasily read and the pages may be turned desired.

A still further object of the invention consists in so forming the support that it'may be so positioned in the bed, with respect to the person, that the person may turn to either side without disturbing the support and the book carriedthereby. V

With the above and other objects in View which will appear as the'description proceeds my invention consists in the novel ,de

tails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear tome, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within thescope ot the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figql is a side'elevation.

Fig. 2 is airagment-al top plan.'

Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical section.

Fig. 1 is afragmental front elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the hing-ed book supporting plate.

A great many persons find enjoyment in reading while reclining'in bed but where it isnecessary to hold the book or other read-[ ing matter in the hands it becomes very tiresome. WVith a'support such: as I have illustrated and will describethe book will be held in such a position as to be easily read and the hands of the reader are entirely free so that'the pages of thebook or other reading matter may be turned as desired.

In the drawings A indicates a frame havingthe leg B hinged thereto at 1. The" framecompri'ses the legs Qand 3 which are connected at their upper ends by the transverse bar 4:, the hinge 1' being connected to this bar and to the upper end of the leg B. A transversely extending bar 5 connects the legs 2 and 3 intermediate their ends and con-- nected to this bar by the hinges 6 is the plate 7 having the flange 8' formed on its lower edge, or secured thereto, and the upstanding fiapgeor ledge 9 is formed on or secured to the outer edge of the flange 8. A'sis quite clearlyshown in the drawings the legs 2 and 3 are arranged at an angle so .that their lower ends are spaced a greater distance apart than the'upper ends for a purpose which will be later described. Secured to the upper edge of the plate 7 by means ot'pthe'screws or other suitable fastenings 10 is a plate 11 to which is hinged at 12 an, arm 13 which is slotted as shown at 1%,; said slot extending from the outer' end of the arm and terminating adjacent the hinged end thereof. A recess 15 is formed in theupper face of the bar 1 and the bottom of this recess is inclined as shown at 16. When the support is in use the arm 13 willbe received'in the recess 15, the inclined bottom ,ofsaid recess allowing for different angles of the arm 13 when the plate 7 is ad usted to different angles in a manner which will be presently described; A threaded post 17 extendsupwardly'from the bottom ofthe recess 15- and will be'received in'the slotl of the arm 13 as shown when the support is'in use. A washer 18will be received upon the pos'tand will straddle the slot 14 so as to engage the upper face of V the arm 13. A thumb nut 19 is received upon the post'and when tightened to engage the washer 18 will hold the arm 13 in its'various adjusted positions. By loosen ing'the thumbnutlt) the plate 7 may be swung atdii'lerent angles with respect to the frame A,- the post 17' riding in the slot 14, and'then whenthe nut is adjusteddnto tightened position the said plate 7 will be held in its adjusted position.

Secured to the back of the plate 7 by means of the screws'20 or other suitable fastenings is the guide '21 which will receive the arm 22 of the inverted U-shaped member C,'the top of this member O extending over theupper edgevof the plate 7 andthe arm 23 extending "parallel with the outer lUU arm 23 is enlarged as shown at 24 for a purpose which will be later brought out. Secured to the arm 23 is a plate 25 having the outwardly extending cars 26 through which the'horizontal rod 27 will pass as shown. The rod 27 is of such a length as to extend a short distance beyond the outer faces of the ears 26 and pass throughthe the outer face of the plate 24 but allowing said plate 29 to be swung upon engagement of the upper edge thereof and the'exertion of pressure thereon. As shown the lower edge of the plate 29 terminates above the lower edge of the plate 24. Secured to the outer face of the leg 2 of the frame is hook 33 and secured to the adjacent edge of the plate 7 is an eye 34 to receive the hook. Secured to the back of the plate 7 are the metal reinforcing strips 35. which are arranged, as shown, on opposite sides of the guide 21. i V

For the sake of cheapness and lightness the frame A, the leg B, and the plate 7 with its flange 8 are formed of wood whereas the other parts will preferably be constructed of some cheap and light metal.

Having fully described the detail construction it is thought that the arrangement of the several parts will be clearly understood and I will now endeavor to more specifically bring out the manner of using. When not in use the parts will be foldedand may bestored away in a small space. When not in use the leg Bis swunginwardly I to rest against the transversely extending bar 5 of the frame, and the plate 7 is swung inwardly to lie against the opposite face of the frame, the arm 13 extending parallel with the plate 7 between said plate and frame. When the support isto be used for reading purposes it is, as has been previously described, placed upon the bed, the legs 2 and 3 of the frame straddling the person reclining in the bed and the leg B being swung outwardly from the frame, at an angle, and being received between the legs of the reclining person. The leg 2 will be received between thebody and the left arm of the person whereas the leg 3 will be received between the body and the right arm. The arm 13 will be raised to extend over the transverse bar 4 of the frame and will operate in the recess'15 thereof with the threaded post 17 extending into the slot 14. With the arm in this position the plate 7 may be swung into the desired-adjusted position, at an angle over the reclining person, and will be held in such adjusted position by tightening the thumb nut 19. The book 1) is then, placed upon the support with its lower edge received uponthe flange 8 formed on or scoured to the lower edge of the plate 7, the up standing flange 9 preventing accidental displacement of the lower edge of the book. The upper edge of the plate 29 will then be engaged to swing the lower edge of said plate away from the plate 24 and the upper edge of the book will be positioned between the plates 24 and 29. By releasing the. plate '29 the spring 30 will'force-the lower edge thereof into tight engagement with the outer face of the book and hold the same in open position and against displacement. l Vhen it is desired to turn the leaves of the book it is only necessary to release the plate 29 therefrom and they may be turned and the plate again releasedto engage the outer face of the book as has been previously described. As shown the plates 24 and 29 are sufficiently wide to accommodate books of differ- .ent widths. The clamp ng member C may be vertically adjusted with respect .to' the plate 7, to allow for books of different heights, by sliding the arm 22 thereof int-he guide 21, the member C being of such resiliency as to provide-sufficient friction to hold the member in its different vertically adjusted positions. 7

From the above description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have provided a novel form of book-support which may .be positioned to allow the reclining person to easily read .without the discomfitures of holding the book and the arms and hands of the reader areleft'free sov that the pages of the book may be easily turned. At-the same. time by having the frame-straddle the person the person may turn to either side, if desired, without affecting the position ofthe support, said turning preventing cramping of the body as would be the case if it was necessary to continually lie in one position. lVhile I have described the supportasjprimarily intended for'books-it will be understood that it is equally as well adapted for supporting papers, magazines, or other reading matter. f

lVhen the support is in its folded position to be stored away the hook 33 will be engaged in the eye 34 so as to hold the, plate 7 against swinging movement with respect to the frame A.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 7 1 v 1. A book support comprising a frame, a plate connected to the frame for swinging movement and adapted for supporting a book, and a clamping member carried by the plate and vertically adjustable thereonfor engaging the book, said clamping member being held in its adjusted position by its engagement with the book. v

2. A book support comprising a frame, a member connected to the frame for swinging movement and adapted to support a book, a plate adapted to be positioned over the front face of the swinging member and vertically adjustable relative thereto, to be positioned 10 between the swinging member and the book supported thereby a clamping member carried by the plate and adapted to engage the outer face of the book, a guide secured to the rear face of the swinging member, and a member secured to the plate and adapted to be receivedin the guide for positioning the plate transversely of the hinged member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FRANK J. EBEL. 

